2-Benzyl 1,3-dithiolanes as herbicidal antidotes

ABSTRACT

Herbicide antidote compounds and herbicidal compositions consisting of an active thiolcarbamate herbicide compound and an antidote therefore and the methods of use of the antidote compound and compositions wherein the antidote compounds correspond to the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While many herbicides are immediately toxic to a large number of weed pests, it is known that the effect of many herbicides upon important plant cultivations is either non-selective or not adequately selective. Thus, many herbicides damage not only the weeds to be controlled, but to a greater or lesser extent, the desirable cultivated plants as well. This holds true for many herbicidal compounds which have been commercially successful and are commercially available. These herbicides include types such as triazines, phenylurea derivatives, halogenated acetanilides; carbamates, thiolcarbamates, thiolcarbamate sulfoxides, pyrrolidinones, benzonitriles, toluidine derivatives, and the like. Some examples of these compounds are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,891,855, 2,913,237, 3,027,248, 3,037,853, 3,175,897, 3,185,720, 3,198,786, 3,257,190, 3,442,945, 3,582,314, 3,780,090, 3,952,056 and 4,110,105.

The side effect of injury to a cultivated crop by various herbicides is particularly inconvenient and unfortunate. When used in the recommended amounts in the soil to control broadleaf weeds and grasses, injury such as serious malformation or stunting of the crop plants results in loss of crop yield. The search continues for good selective herbicides.

Previous attempts are described to overcome this problem. The treatment of the crop seed with certain "hormonal" antagonistic agents to planting is described, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,131,509 and 3,564,768. The protective agents, as well as the herbicide, in these prior processes are largely specific to certain cultivated plant species or in the nature of the antagonistic agents. The prior antagonistic agents have not been notably successful. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,021,224, 4,124,376, 4,137,070 and 3,909,503 also relate to herbicide-antidote systems differing from the previously cited patents.

The aforementioned patents specifically exemplify and describe the treatment of seeds and soil treatment employing compounds of different chemical classes, not suggestive of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has been discovered that cultivated crop plants can be protected by compounds against injury from thiolcarbamate-type herbicides, and said injury can be decreased when the herbicides, each alone or in mixtures or in combination with other compounds, are applied in a variety of ways. Further, as an alternative effect, the tolerance of the crop plants to these herbicides can be substantially increased by adding to the soil an antidote compound of the type--2-benzyl 1,3-dithiolanes.

Therefore, the present invention includes a two-part herbicide system consisting essentially of a first-part of one or more herbicides heretofore mentioned, and a second-part of an effective amount of an antidote compound therefore, said antidote compounds corresponding to the following formula ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or 1.

The term "lower alkyl" includes straight chain, branched chain and cyclic substituents of this group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, inclusive, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, cyclopropyl, and the like.

By thiolcarbamate herbicides the present invention includes compounds of the formula ##STR3## in which

R₁ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl 1 to 6 carbon atoms and alkenyl 2 to 6 carbon atoms;

R₂ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl 2 to 6 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl, phenyl and benzyl; or

R₁ and R₂ taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form an alkylene ring substituted and unsubstituted 2 to 9 carbon atoms; and

R₃ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl 1 to 6 carbon atoms, haloalkyl 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenylene ring 5 to 10 carbon atoms, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl and substituted benzyl.

By way of exemplification, active thiolcarbamate herbicides employed in the present invention may include the following: S-ethyl N,N-dipropylthiolcarbamate (EPTC), S-ethyl N,N-diisobutyl thiolcarbamate, S-propyl N,N-dipropyl thiolcarbamate, S-2,3,3-trichloroallyl N,N-diisopropyl thiolcarbamate, S-ethyl N-cyclohexyl N-ethyl thiolcarbamate, S-ethyl hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate, S-4-chlorobenzyl N,N-diethyl thiolcarbamate and combinations thereof.

In general, the active antidote compounds of the present invention can be prepared by the following methods.

By reacting the appropriate phenylacetone or phenylacetaldehyde with ethane dithiol in a suitable solvent such as toluene or benzene, the phenylacetone ethane dithioacetal or phenyl acetaldehyde ethane dithioacetal was prepared. Heating is sometimes required to facilitate the reaction rate. A catalyst such as 2-naphthalene sulfonic acid is used to aid the reaction. The compounds of this inventipon can be recovered from the reaction mixture and purified by standard procedures. The structure can be confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance or infrared spectroscopy.

The compounds of the present invention and their preparation and more particularly illustrated by the following examples. Following the examples of preparation is a table of compounds which are prepared according to the procedures described herein. Compound numbers have been assigned to them and are used for identification throughout the balance of the specification.

EXAMPLE I Preparation of Phenylacetaldehyde ethane dithioacetal

In a 250 milliliter (ml) flask 16.6 grams (g) (0.1 mole) of phenylacetalaldehyde was combined with 9.4 g (0.1 mole) of ethane dithiol with 0.2 g of β-naphthalene sulfonic acid with 200 ml of toluene as the solvent. The mixture was heated to reflux for 3 hours. The reaction mass was stripped in vacuo. There was obtained 23.5 g of the title compound, n_(D) ³⁰ 1.6100. The expected structure was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr).

EXAMPLE II Preparation of Phenylacetone ethane dithioacetal

In a 250 ml flask there was combined 20.0 g (0.15 mole) of phenyl acetone and 14.1 g (0.15 mole) of ethane dithiol with 200 ml of toluene and 0.3 g of β-naphthalene sulfonic acid. In a similar work-up as Example I, there was obtained 16.3 g of the title compound, n_(D) ³⁰ 1.5940. The expected structure was confirmed by nmr and mass spectroscopy (ms).

EXAMPLE III Preparation of 1-Oxo-2-benzyl-1,3-dithiolane

The dithiolate, as from Example I, (9.8 g, 0.05 mole) and 150 ml of methylene chloride were combined in a 300 ml flask, while stirring and cooling in an ice-bath, meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (85%--10.2 g, 0.05 mole) was added in small portions over a period of one hour. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight.

The reaction mixture was filtered free of solids, and the methylene chloride was washed with 100 ml of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The methylene chloride phase was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo.

There was obtained 6.1 g of the title compound, a solid, melting point (m.p.) 128°-130° C. The expected structure was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (ir).

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                          ##STR4##                                                                      Compound                                                                       No.        R          X     n.sub.Dy 3.sup.0                                   ______________________________________                                         1          H          0     1.6100                                             2          CH.sub.3   0     1.5940                                             3          H          1     m.p. 128-130° C.                            ______________________________________                                    

It is clear that the classes of herbicidal agents described and illustrated herein are characterized as effective herbicides exhibiting such activity. The degree of this herbicidal activity varies among specific compounds and among combinations of specific compounds within the classes. Similarly, the degree of activity to some extent varies among the species of plants to which a specific herbicidal compound or combination may be applied. Thus, selection of a specific herbicidal compound or combination to control undesirable plant species readily may be made. Within the present invention the prevention of injury to a desired crop species in the presence of a specific compound or combination may be achieved. The beneficial plant species which can be protected by this method is not intended to be limited by the specific crops employed in the examples.

The herbicidal compounds employed in the utility of this invention are active herbicides of a general type. That is, the members of the classes are herbicidally effective against a wide range of plant species with little or no discrimination between desirable and undesirable species. The method of controlling vegetation comprises applying an herbicidally effective amount of the herein described herbicidal compounds to the area or plant locus where control is desired.

An herbicide as used herein means a compound which controls or modifies the growth of vegetation or plants. Such controlling or modifying effects include all deviations from natural development; for example, killing, retardation, defoliation, desiccation, regulation, stunting, tillering, stimulation, dwarfing and the like. By "plants" it is meant germinant seeds, emerging seedlings, and established vegetation, including the roots and above-ground portions.

The terms herbicide antidote or antidotal amount is meant to describe the effect which tends to counteract the normal injurious herbicidal response that the herbicide might otherwise produce. Whether it is to be termed a remedy, interferant, protectant, or the like, will depend upon the exact mode of action. The mode of action is varied, but the effect, which is desirable, is the result of the method of treating the seed, soil or furrow in which a crop is planted. Hitherto, there have been no systems employing the antidote of the present invention which have been for this purpose.

As alternative modes of action, the compounds of this invention may interfere with the normal herbicidal action of the thiolcarbamate-type herbicides to render them selective in their action. The observation noted with the presence of the herein described antidote is a decrease in phytotoxicity with respect to various crops. The phytotoxicity is otherwise observed when various thiolcarbamate, herbicides are used for weed control. Whichever mode of action is present, the corresponding beneficial and desirable effect is the continued herbicidal effect of the thiolcarbamate herbicide against weed species present with the crop, with the accompanying selective decreased herbicidal effect on desired crop series. This advantage and utility will become more apparent hereinafter.

EVALUATION AND TESTING PROCEDURE

Stock solutions of the herbicides were prepared by diluting the requisite amount of each herbide in water or water and acetone. The solution compositions and application rates and methods are summarized in Table II.

Test Procedures and Results

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Herbicide Stock Solution                                                                   Composition                                                                    Herbi-                                                                               Water or Application                                                       cide    Acetone  ml/  lb/  Meth-                                 Herbicide Name                                                                               (mg)    (ml)     flat acre od*                                   ______________________________________                                         VERNAM ®  488     400      5     1.25                                                                               PPI                                                         water                                                    S--propyl N,N--                                                                              2340    400      5    6.0  PPI                                   dipropyl thio-        water                                                    carbamate                                                                      RONEET ®  960     400      5    3.0  PPI                                   2-chloro 2'-methyl-N--                                                         (methoxyethyl) acet-                                                           anilide                                                                        ______________________________________                                          *Method                                                                        PPI = Preplant incorporation                                             

Stock solutions of each antidote compound were prepared at the desired concentration by diluting the requisite amounts of each antidote in acetone. The compositions and rates for each method of application are summarized in Table III.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         Antidote Stock Solutions                                                       Antidote: 2-Benzyl 1,3-Dithionates                                             Composition       Application                                                  Antidote (mg)                                                                            Acetone (ml)                                                                               ml/flat  lb/acre                                                                               Method                                   ______________________________________                                         95        15          1.5      5.0    IF                                       95        15          0.3      1.0    IF                                       40        10          5.0      5.0    PPI                                      100       10          2.0      2.0    PPI                                      100       10          1.0      1.0    PPI                                      ______________________________________                                          IF = Infurrow surface application                                              PPI = Preplant incorporation of herbicide and antidote as a tank mix     

All of the soil used in the tests described herein was loamy sand soil treated with 50 parts per million (ppm) each of a commercially available fungicide, cis-N[(trichloromethyl)-thio]-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide, and 18-18-18 fertilizer, which contains 18% by weight equivalent each of nitrogen, phosphorus pentoxide, and potassium oxide.

As indicated in the tables, herbicides were applied to the soil by pre-plant incorporation (PPI) either alone or with the antidote as a tank mix. The acetanilide herbicides were applied by atomizing the herbicide, or herbicide/antidote tank mix, to the soil surface of seeded flats. The antidote compounds were applied by PPI, pre-plant incorporation and in-furrow (IF) methods of application.

For in-furrow antidote applications, a one pint (473 cubic centimeter) sample of soil from each planting flat was removed and retained. After leveling and furrowing the soil, seeds of the crop or weed species were planted 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter). Each flat was divided in half by a wooden barrier. A stock solution of the antidote was atomized directly onto the exposed seeds and soil in the open furrow on one side of the barrier. The seeds in the entire flat were then covered with the previously removed soil. The antidotally untreated sections of flats were compared for observed differences which would indicate lateral movement of the antidote through the soil.

For the pre-plant incorporation method the herbicide and the antidote of each test group were incorporated into the soil either each alone or together as a tank mix using a five gallon rotary mixer.

All flats were placed on greenhouse benches where temperature was maintained between 70° and 90° F. (21° to about 32° C.). The flats were watered by sprinkling as needed to assure good plant growth.

Control flats contained crops treated with herbicides only at the various rates and method of application.

Injury ratings were taken four weeks after application of the antidote. The effectiveness of the antidote was determined by visual comparison of injuries to crops and weeds in the control and test flats to those in untreated flats.

The treated crops initially screened for diminution of herbicidal injury were milo (MO), rice (RC), barley (BA), and corn (CN). Those compounds which showed substantial crop injury reduction were further tested at reduced rates. The herbicides and antidote compositions were then screened on at least one weed species. The weed species tested for control included foxtail (FT) (Setaria viridis) and shattercane (SC) (Sorghum bicolor).

KEY TO TABLE IV Antidotes

Compound numbers in this table corresponds to the numbers and their chemical description in Table I.

Application:

IF=In-furrow surface

PPI-TM=Pre-plant incorporated of herbicide and antidote as a tank mix

PPI=Pre-plant incorporation of herbicide or antidote as indicated

Rates are shown in pounds per acre based on the surface area of the flat.

Reported result=Treated/untreated (T/U)

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                                 Antidote                                                               Compound                                                                               Rate &    Herbicide                                                    Number  Method    Rate & Method  Crop Result                                   ______________________________________                                         1       5 IF      1 PPI VERNAM   MO   55/80                                            5 IF      2 PPI RONEET   MO   40/70                                                      Weeds:         FT   90/90                                                                     SC   100/100                                  2       5 IF      1 PPI VERNAM   RC    35/100                                          2 PPI-TM  1 PPI-TM VERNAM                                                                               RC   80/95                                    3       5 IF      1.25 PPI VERNAM                                                                               BA   60/95                                            5 IF      6.0 PPI VERNAM CN    0/85                                    ______________________________________                                    

The antidote compounds and compositions of the present invention can be used in any convenient form. Thus, the antidote compounds can be formulated into emulsifiable liquids, emulsifiable concentrates, liquid, wettable powder, powders, granular or any other convenient form. In its preferred form, an herbicidal antidote compound in a non-phytotoxic quantity with respect to the crop is admixed with a selected herbicide and incorporated into the soil prior to or after planting the seed. It is to be understood, however, that the herbicides can be incorporated into the soil and thereafter the antidote compound can be incorporated into the soil. Moreover, the crop seed itself can be treated with a non-phytotoxic quantity of the compound and planted into the soil which has been treated with herbicides, or untreated with the herbicide and subsequently treated with the herbicide. The addition of the antidote compound does not effect the herbicidal activity of the herbicides except to render the activity selective with respect to beneficial crops.

The amount of antidote compound present can range between about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight of antidote compound described herein per each part by weight of herbicide. The exact amount of antidote compound will usually be determined on economic ratios for the most effective amount usable. It is understood that a non-phytotoxic quantity of antidote compound with respect to a particular crop will be employed in the herbicidal compositions described herein.

FORMULATIONS

The compounds and compositions can be formulated in the same manner in which herbicides are generally formulated. The object of the formulation is to apply the compounds and compositions to the locus where control is desired by a conventional method. The "locus" may include soil, seeds, seedlings, and vegetation.

The active herbicidal ingredient of a formulation will generally be such that its application rate will be within the range of 0:01 to 50 lb/A (0.0112 to 56 k/ha). The antidote compound which may be formulated separately or together with the herbicide will generally comprise about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight of the herbicide.

Formulations will generally contain several additives. Among these are some inert ingredients, diluent carriers, organic solvents, water, oil and water, water in oil emulsions, carriers of dusts and granules, and surface active wetting, dispersing, and emulsifying agents.

Fertilizers, e.g., ammonium nitrate, urea and superphosphate, may also be included.

Aids to rooting and growth, e.g., compost, manure, humus, sand, etc., may likewise be included.

Dusts are free-flowing powder compositions containing the herbicidal compound impregnated on a particulate carrier. The particle size of the carriers is usually in the approximate range of 30 to 50 microns. Examples of suitable carriers are talc, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, and pyrophyllite. Anti-caking and anti-static agents can be added, if desired. The composition generally contains up to 50% of active ingredient. Dusts, like liquid compositions, can be applied by spraying from boom and hand sprayers or airplanes.

Wettable powders are finely divided compositions comprising a particulate carrier impregnated with the herbicidal compound and additionally containing one or more surface active agents. The surface active agent promotes rapid dispersion of the powder in aqueous medium to form stable, sprayable suspensions. A wide variety of surface active agents can be used, for example, long chain fatty alcohols and alkali metal salts of the sulfated fatty alcohols; salts of sulfonic acid; esters of long chain fatty acids; and polyhydric alcohols, in which the alcohol groups are free, omega-substituted polyethylene glycols of relatively long chain length. A list of surface active agents suitable for use in agriculture formulations can be found in Wade Van Valkenburg, Pesticide Formulations, (Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y., (1973)) at pages 79-84.

Granules comprise the herbicidal composition impregnated on a particulate inert carrier having a particle size of about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. The granules can be made by spraying a solution of the active ingredient in a volatile solvent onto the granule carrier. Suitable carriers in preparation of granules include clay, vermiculite, sawdust, granular carbon, etc.

The herbicidal compositions can also be applied to the soil in the form of a solution in a suitable solvent. Solvents frequently used in herbicidal formulations include kerosene, fuel oil, xylene, petroleum fractions with boiling ranges above xylene, and aromatic petroleum fractions rich in methylated naphthalenes.

Emulsifiable concentrates consist of an oil solution of the herbicide along with an emulfisying agent. Prior to use the concentrate is diluted with water to form a suspended emulsion of oil droplets. The emulsifiers used are usually a mixture of anionic and nonionic surfactants. Other additives such as spreading agents and stickers can be included in the emulsifiable concentrate.

The compounds and compositions of this invention can also be applied by addition to irrigation water supplied to the field to be treated. This method of application permits the penetration of the compositions into the soil as the water is absorbed therein.

It is not necessary that the compounds and compositions be admixed with the soil particles. After application by the above discussed methods, they may be distributed below the surface to a depth of at least one-half inch by conventional means such as discing, dragging, or mixing. 

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of protecting a crop from injury due to at least one thiolcarbamate herbicide, comprising preplant incorporation in the soil in which said crop is to be planted, a non-phytotoxic antidotally effective amount of a compound corresponding to the formula ##STR5## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or
 1. 2. The method according to claim 1 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 0. 3. The method according to claim 1 in which R is lower alkyl, and x is
 0. 4. The method according to claim 3 in which R is methyl.
 5. The method according to claim 1 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 1. 6. The method of protecting a crop from injury due to at least one thiolcarbamate herbicide, comprising applying in-furrow to the seed and soil in which said crop is to be planted, a non-phytotoxic, antidotally effective amount of a compound corresponding to the formula ##STR6## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or
 1. 7. The method according to claim 6 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 0. 8. The method according to claim 6 in which R is lower alkyl, and x is
 0. 9. The method according to claim 8 in which R is methyl.
 10. The method according to claim 6 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 1. 11. A herbicidal composition comprising at least one active thiolcarbamate herbicide and an antidotally effective amount of a compound corresponding to the formula ##STR7## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or
 1. 12. The composition according to claim 11 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 0. 13. The composition according to claim 11 in which R is lower alkyl, and x is
 0. 14. The composition according to claim 13 in which R is methyl.
 15. The composition according to claim 11 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 1. 16. The method of decreasing injury to crops, said injury due to at least one herbicide of the thiolcarbamate type, comprising applying to the soil which said crop is planted and grown, a non-phytotoxic antidotally effective amount of a compound corresponding to the formula ##STR8## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1-3 carbon atoms, and x is 0 or
 1. 17. The method according to claim 16 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 0. 18. The method according to claim 16 in which R is lower alkyl, and x is
 0. 19. The method according to claim 18 in which R is methyl.
 20. The method according to claim 16 in which R is hydrogen and x is
 1. 